Apparatus for processing metal strip



April 1957 l A. s. HELLSTROM 2,790,229

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING METAL STRIP Filed May 27, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 PASS LM! IN VEN TOR. Axe/ 5. fle/Asfram April 30, 1957 A. s. HELLSTROM 2,790,229

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING METAL STRIP s Shets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1952 April 30, 1957 A. s HELLSTROM 2,790,229

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APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING METAL STRIP 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 2'7, 1952 ATTOE/VEK A. s. HELLSTROM 2,790,229

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING'METAL STRIP A ril 30,1957

8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 27, 1952 R Z W E a ma 7 g m n N A ril 30, 1957 A. s. HELLSTROM 2,790,229

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APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING METAL STRIP Filed May 27, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. Axe/ 5 f/e/As/ram. BY

147' OQ/VEK APPARATUS FQR PROCESSING METAL STRKP Axel S. Hellstrom, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to The Youngstown Foundry & Machine Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 27, 1952, Serial No. 290,193 2 Claims. (Cl. 29-81) This invention relates to an apparatus for processing metal strip and more particularly to improved features of construction of such apparatus whereby metal strip may be processed to remove the scale and improve the physical condition, metallurgically, thereof.

it is known in the art that the uncoiling of metal strip and particularly hot rolled strip generally results in the formation in the strip of transverse shadow marks which are actually minute fissures sometimes called coil breaks which tend to occur as the strip is uncoiled and led into a tangently extending path due to the tendency of the strip to retain its curved shape. Several methods and apparatus have heretofore been proposed to prevent the occurrence of coil breaks in the strip as it leaves the coil or to process the strip as it leaves the coil to work the metal as by flexing or bending it to the limits of its elasticity and then subjecting it to a roller leveler. Such methods and apparatus have met with varying degrees of success but have not eliminated the frequent formation of the transverse shadow marks which render the involved portions of the strip unsuitable for use in subsequent operations such as cold rolling or die drawing, etc. Such methods have also failed to remove the scale.

The methods and apparatus heretofore proposed have included those attempting to satisfactorily work the metal strip directly on the coil or in the immediate proximity thereof as the same is uncoiled therefrom and these methods and apparatus are objectionable in that they require the presence of complicated coil holding devices which are diflicult to operate and particularly in placing a new coil thereon and presenting the same to operative registry with the remainder of the apparatus.

Other methods and apparatus have been proposed which resemble roller levelers with one or more of the leveler rolls being movable into the normal plane of the metal strip to work the metal through a more angular pattern and again such methods and apparatus have fallen short of perfection in that the transverse shadow marks frequently occur in the metal strip.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus capable of applying substantial longitudinal tension to the metal strip being processed and simultaneously Working the same over a plurality of working rolls to flex the metal to the limits of its elasticity and remove the scale therefrom. This combination of the tensioning or-limited stretchin of the metal plus the cold working has been found to process the metal successfully with respect to the removal of scale therefrom and elimination of transverse shadow marks thereby achieving the principal object. This object and others which will hereafter appear is accomplished by this invention by employing apparatus capable of holding, tensioning and working the metal strip both initially when vthe strip is first positioned in the apparatus and continuously thereafter as the strip passes therethrough.

Another object is the provision in metal-strip process ing apparatus of means to subject the metal tstrip to simultaneous cold working and longitudinal tensioning where- Statcs Patent Patented Apr. 30, 1-957 by the metal of the strip will have a greater degree of cold plasticity before entry into the leveling rolls which are normally associated with apparatus of the character herein described.

A further object of the invention is the provision of longitudinal tensioning and cold Working apparatus in a metal strip processor in such manner as to provide a compact unitary machine assembly which is operative to deliver straightened scale free strip stock from coils of strip in an expeditious manner and in a highly improved physical condition particularly suitable for subsequent cold rolling.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a metal strip processor of the cold working type raving means for controlling the degree of tensioning and working of the strip passed therethrough and which means is readily variable to enable the apparatus to handle various types of metal strip.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a continuous metal strip processor adapted for use in a continuous strip pickling line and which processor will operate efficiently at the speeds necessary in handling strip in such a continuous strip pickling line.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a strip processor which may be used with various types of apparatus directly receiving and uncoiling a coil of metal strip such as, for example, a coil box or mandrel incorporating coil holding devices, from which devices the strip may be fed directly into the apparatus herein disclosed where it will be effectively processed to remove the scale therefrom and avoid the formation of the here'- inbefore mentioned objectionable transverse shadow marks.

It will occur to those skilled in the art that a strip processor such as disclosed herein is particularly desirable in producing metal strip of uniform quality and particularly strip without so-called coil breaks therein and- Which strip can be subjected to such process as cold rolling, die drawing and the like and which in its finished form will acceptably receive and retain various finishing materials.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention. v

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of a metal strip processor formed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the metal strip processor shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2-.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmental side elevation of a portion of the strip processor including the section of Figure 4,

of the strip processor including the section shown in Figure 8 and indicated by line 9-9 thereon.

Figure 10 is a cross section on an enlarged scale taken on line 10-10 of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a schematic elevation of the hydraulic control system utilized in the apparatus of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1 and 2 in particular it will be seen that the main frame of the strip processor consists of a pair of housings 10 and 11 which are spaced horizontally with respect to one another in parallel alignment and which housings 1d and 11 rotatably support the various rolls of the apparatus. The housings 10 and 11 are suitably interconnected by various transverse members 12 and 13, it being observed that the transverse members 13 take the form of strain rods positioned through the members 12. Additional interconnecting members 14 unite the base portions and COI1 tribute to the rigidity of the frame thus formed.

Still referring to Figure 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the apparatus includes a plurality of sidewardly extending drive shafts 15-15 having universal extensible couplings 1616 at their opposite ends and interconnecting the several rolls of the apparatus with a driving mechanism consisting of a gear reduction unit 17 by means of which the various rolls of the apparatus are driven from a common motor 18 which in turn is coupled to the gear reduction unit 17 by a suitable coupling 19.

By referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings it will be observed that the strip to be processed is adapted to follow a pass line through the apparatus entering the same at the left hand end thereof from a coil box or the like (not shown) and between a pair of upper and lower horizontal guides 20 and 21, which guides are carried on the housings 10 and 11. Oppositely disposed vertical ways in the housings 10 and 11 carry bearing housings 22 and 23, the bearing housings 22 being capable of vertical movement in the way so as to elevate a pinch roll 24 journaled therein with respect to a correspond ing pinch roll 25 journaled in the bearing housings 23.

Means for moving the bearing housings 23 and pinch roll 24 vertically include a transverse beam 26 interconnecting the bearing housings 22 and hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies, the cylinders 27 of which are mounted on the top surfaces of the housings 1t and 11 and the pistons 28 of which are connected to the bearing housings 22. Thus the pinch rolls 24 and 25 may be separated to permit the entry of metal strip therethrough on the pass line heretofore referred to.

A pair of spaced secondary pinch rolls 29 and 30 and 31 and 32 are also positioned in the apparatus in longitudinally spaced relation to the pinch rolls 24 and 25 and each of the pinch rolls 29 and 31 is adapted to be moved vertically with respect to the pass line as the housings 3333 in which they are journaled are mounted in suitable oppositely disposed vertical ways formed in the housings 10 and 11. Transverse beams 34-34- interconnect the bearing housings 33-33 journaling the pinch rolls 29 and 31 and hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies including cylinders 36 are mounted on the tops of the housings 10 and 11 with their pistons 37 37 connected to the bearing housings 33-33. Guides 38 and 39 are mounted in front of each of the pinch rolls 29 and 31 for deflecting strip metal downwardly beneath the same and a guide 40 is mounted in front of the pinch roll 32 to insure the registry of the strip metal between the pinch rolls 31 and 32.

Additional guides 41 and 42 are positioned behind the pinch rolls 31 and 32 and guide the metal strip to leveler rolls 43 and 44 which are spaced longitudinally with respect to the pinch rolls 29 and 30 and 31 and 32 and between the housings 19 and 11. Intermediate the pinch rolls 24 and 25 and the pinch rolls 29 and 30 there are located three working rolls 45, 46 and 47,

4 each of which is associated with a backing roll 45A, 46A and 47A.- The working rolls 45, 46 and 47 are of relatively small diameter and are spaced longitudinally with respect to one another and positioned transversely of the housings It] and 11.

in working position, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the pass line of the metal strip through the apparatus is downwardly and around the lower surface of the working roll 45, upwardly and over the front surface of the working roll 46 and downwardly and around the lower surface of the working roll 47. It will be observed that working of the metal strip is thus obtained which is suitable for the intended purpose. it will also be observed that the working roll 46 and the backup roll 46A therefor are rotatably mounted in fixed position in the apparatus while the working rolls 45 and 47 and their backup rolls 45A and 47A are movable vertically in the apparatus as they are journaled in bearing housings 48 and 49, each of which is located in oppositely disposed vertical ways in the housings 1b and 11 and are interconnected by transversely extending beams 50 and 51.

Hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies are mounted on the top surfaces of the housings 10 and 11. Cylinders 52 are mounted above the bearing housings 48 having their pistons 53 connected thereto so that the bearing housings 48 and the working roll 45 and backup roll 45A and the guide 56 may be moved vertically above a substantially horizontal line extending between the pinch rolls 24- and 25 and 29 and 30. Similar hydraulic cylinders 54 are connected through pistons 55 thereof with the bearing housings 49 in which the working roll 47 and its backup roll 47A are journaled so that the rolls 47 and 47A and the guide 5'7 may also move vertically above a horizontal line extending from the pinch rolls 2 and 25 to the pinch rolls 29 and 30. A fixed guide 35 is positioned between the housings 10 and 11 and immediately above the working roll 46. It will be observed a that the working roll 46 and its backup roll 46A are located below said horizontal line.

The several rolls may be seen in exaggerated elevated position in Figure 11 of the drawings wherein a schematic elevation of the hydraulic control system for the several vertically movable rolls of the apparatus is disclosed.

By referring again to Figures 3, 4, 6 and 8 of the drawings it will be seen that additional guides 56 and 57 are carried on the bearing housings 48 and 49 and positioned beneath the working rolls 45 and 47, respectively, and an additional guide 58 is located above and in front of the backup roll 45A. The various guides are all positioned transversely of the apparatus and between the housings 10 and 11 and are all inclined so as to guide metal strip toward the pass line, as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

In order to control the downward movement of the working rolls 45 and 47, vertically adjustable bottoming members 58 and 59 are provided as best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. By referring thereto it will be seen that the bottoming members 58 and 59 are provided in oppositely disposed pairs in the housings 10 and 11, respectively, and take the form of vertically movable members, the lower portions 60 of which are threaded for engagement in rotatable worm rings 61. A transverse shaft 62 is positioned through the housings 10 and 11 and provided with a hand wheel 63 on one end and by means of which it may be revolved. Worm gears 64 on the shaft 62 and adjacent each of the worm rings 61 serve to revolve the worm rings 61 when the shaft 62 is rotated thereby moving the bottoming members 58 vertically.

By referring to Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings it will be observed that these bottoming members are provided in the housings 10 and 11 and beneath each of the ends of each of the bearing housings 48 and 49 in which the working rolls 45 and 47 are journaled.

By referring now to Figures 1, 3 and 10, the roller leveler portion of the apparatus may be seen and'which roller levelers include the rotatably mounted rolls 44 beneath the pass line and the rotatably mounted vertically movable rolls 43 above the pass line. The rolls 44 are journaled in fixed housings 65 which are fixed by suitable fastening means in appropriately formed seats in the housings 10 and 11 and in longitudinally spaced relation to the pair of pinch rolls 29 and 30 and 31 and 32. The leveler rolls 43 located above the pass line are journaled in housings 66 which are secured by suitable fasteners to a transversely positioned yoke 67, the opposite ends of which overlie the housings i and 11 and are positioned between vertical guides 68 formed thereon. Two pairs of shafts 69 and 79 are positioned in spaced relation on either side of the roller leveler rolls 43 and 44 and secured at their uppermost ends to the yoke 67. The lowermost ends of the pairs of shafts 69 and 7% are threaded as at 71 and 72, respectively, and positioned in internally threaded sleeves 73 and 74, respectively, which have annular. gear formations 75 and 76 formed thereon for registry with worm gears 77 and 78 positioned adjacent thereto on shafts 79 and 80. It will be observed that the construction of the shafts 69 and 70 and the vertical moving means thereof is the same as that used with the bottoming members 58 and 59 heretofore referred to.

Hand wheels 81 and 82 located on the outermost ends of the shafts 79 and 80, respectively, provide means for imparting vertical movement and particularly downwardly clamping action of the leveler rolls 43 with respect to a metal strip positioned between the rolls 43 and 44 and running longitudinally of the apparatus on the pass line. The apparatus includes guides 83 and 84 beyond the leveler rolls 43 and 44 by means of which guides the metal strip is directed outwardly from the delivery end 85 of the apparatus.

It will occur to those skilled in the art that suitable control means is necessary for effecting the operation of the various hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 27, 52, 54 and 36 and by referring to Figure 11 of the drawings a schematic elevation of the hydraulic control arrangement and source of fluid pressure therefor will be seen.

In Figure 11 the hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 27, 52, S4 and 36 are shown in communication with a fluid pressure supply line 86 and return line 87 through a plurality of control valves 88, 89, 90, 91 and 91A, respectively, the control valve 88 being arranged to direct fluid pressure into either end of the hydraulic cylinders 27 through communicating piping 92 and 93, respectively, and thereby controls the vertical positioning of the pinch roll 24. The control valve 89 communicates with the hydraulic cylinders 52 by means of pipes 94 and 95 and thus controls the vertical position of the working roll 45, its backup roll 45A and the guide 56. The control valve 90 communicates with the hydraulic cylinders 54 by means of pipes 96 and 97 and thereby controls the vertical position of the working roll 47, its backup roll 47A and the guide 57.

The control valves 91 and 91A communicate with the two pairs of cylinders 36-36 by way of pipes 98, 99 and 99, 99A, respectively, and thereby control the vertical positions of the pair of pinch rolls 29 and 31. The roller leveler rolls 43 and 44, also shown in Figure 11 of the drawings, are controlled mechanically and hereinbefore described in connection with Figure 10. A reservoir 99, pump 100 and motor 101 therefor are shown in operative connection with the supply and return lines 86 and 87.

Still referring to Figure 11 of the drawings it will be observed that a dotted line marked Pass Line is positioned longitudinally between the various working elements of the apparatus disclosed symbolically in Figure 11 and indicates the relatively clear passageway through the apparatus when the several working elements thereof are in elevated relation as at the time a section of strip metal is fed into'the device. A broken'line is also positioned between said working elements in the position the metal strip occupies when the apparatus is in operation. It will be observed that the working rolls 45 and 47 are also shown in dotted line position deflecting the strip from the horizontal solid line heretofore referred to.

The rolls 43 and 44 of the roller leveler portion of the device are driven by a plurality of drive shafts 102 which are connected to the rolls 43 and 44 by suitable couplings 103 and with a suitable gear reduction mechanism 104. The gear reduction mechanism 04 is coupled by means of a coupling with a portion of the gear reduction mechanism 17 heretofore referred to which in turn is driven by the motor 13 through the coupling 19.

Operation In operating the processor, a coil of strip to be processed is fed into the apparatus between the guides 20 and 21 and into the pinch rolls 24 and 25 which are opened for the reception of the same. Upon the strip entering the pinch rolls 2'4 and 25 the same are closed by manipulation of the control valve 88 and the processor started by energizing the motor 18. As the rolls 24 and 25 are driven rolls, the strip is then advanced into the processor thereby. Previously to such action, the working rolls 45 and 47 and their backup rolls 45A and 47A would. have been elevated by means of the pairs of hydraulic cylinders 52 and 54, respectively, which are controlled by the control valve 5% and Thus, the strip being fed into the processor follows a substantially horizontal line running betwen the guides 58, 56, 35, 37 and 3a; and into the previously opened secondary pairs of pinch rolls 23, 3t}, 31 and 32. The rotation of the several rolls in the processor is then stopped by die-energizing the motor 18 and the pairs of secondary pinch rolls 29 3t 31 and 32 engaged upon the strip by the action of the hydraulic cylinders 36 as controlled by the control valves 91 and 91A.

The pinch rolls 24 and 25 are then opened and the working roll 47 and its backup roll 47A moved downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of the strip and the same deflected to the dotted line illustrating the pass line, as in Figure 3 of the drawings, it being observed that the guide 57 moves downwardly along with the working roll 47 and backup roll 47A.

Subsequent to the bottoming of the housing 49 carrying the roll 47 and backup roll 47A on the bottoming member 5%, the working roll 45 and its backup roll 45A are moved downwardly by the hydraulic cylinder 52 as controlled by the control valve 2%. A the same moves downwardly against the strip, the pinch rolls 24 and 25 are closed by action of the hydrauiic cyiinder as controlled by the control valve 88, and as none of the rolls is rotating, the continued downward movement of the working roll 45 and its backup roll 45A tensions the strip to the point of slightly stretching the same.

Continuous hydraulic tension is maintained on the working roll 45 by the hydraulic cylinder 52 and in this connection suitable control devices may be incorporated in the hydraulic supply line.

The positions of the working rolls 45 and 47 are visually indicated on the side of the apparatus, as shown in Figure l, and wherein vertical scales 106 and 107 are positioned adjacent the housings 48 and 49 which in turn are provided with pointers registering with the scales.

It will thus be observed that assuming the bottoming members 53 and 59 were set at a uniform height, the housing 49 would be moved downwardly until it engaged the bottoming member 59 while the housing 43 would not bottom on the bottoming device 58 but would hold the strip in tension at a point thereabove. Following the tensioning of the strip as thus disclosed, the motor 18 is again energized and the strip continues through the leveler rolls 43 and 44 which are then moved together between the mechanical arrangement hereinbefore disclosed in connection with Figure 10 of the drawings and the apparatus operates continuously from that point onward, tensioning the strip continuously, working the strip continuously and removing the scale and achieving the desired plasticity of the metal in accordance with the objects of the invention.

It will thus be observed that the primary points of novelty in the invention are the method of simultaneously tensioning and working the strip and the apparatus cffecting such action.

It will also be observed by those skilled in the art that in order to achieve the operation hereinbefore described, it is necessary that each of the plurality of pinch rolls, working rolls and leveler rolls be driven for uniform surface engagement with the strip and the gear reduction units 17 and 104 are accordingly formed in accordance with known mechanical principles for achieving this result and are not therefore otherwise I disclosed herein.

It will thus be seen that the several objects of the invention have been met by the method and apparatus of processing strip hereinbefore set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Metal strip processing apparatus comprising a frame having a pair of spaced housings and a plurality of driven rolls carried by said frame, said driven rolls including at least two pairs of pinch rolls longitudinally spaced with respect to one another, a working roll and backup roll therefor positioned intermediate said pairs of pinch rolls, a pair of secondary working rolls and secondary backup rolls therefor positioned one on either side of said first mentioned working roll intermediate said pairs of pinch rolls, bearing members carried by said housings journalling the opposite ends of said secondary working and backup rolls, hydraulic means mounted on said housings and connected to said bearing members for independently moving the secondary working and backup rolls from a position on one side of the pinch rolls to permit metal strip to be fed into the apparatus to a position on the other side of the pinch rolls to apply stretching tension to the metal strip, a guide member carried between each corresponding pair of bearing members in spaced parallelism with an associated working roll to guide the metal strip when the same is fed into the machine, bottoming members carried by said housings and disposed in the path of movement of said bearing means, and means for vertically raising and lowering said bottoming members to vary the tension applied thereby to the metal strip.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means including internally threaded sleeves journalled in said housings, and means for rotating said sleeves, and said bottoming members having threaded cylindrical portions threadedly engaged in said sleeves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 730,549 Mallett June 9, 1903 1,317,714 Locke Oct. 7, 1919 2,004,596 Biggert June 11, 1935 2,188,782 Thomas Jan. 30, 1940 2,214,618 Kenyon et a1. Sept. 10, 1940 2,226,500 Matthews Dec. 24, 1940 2,318,432 Stanier May 4, 1943 2,335,196 Pecsok Nov. 23, 1943 2,391,499 Yoder Dec. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 619,820 Germany Oct. 7, 1935 902,876 France Sept. 14, 1945 

